Valentina Neverova

Pravo

February 10, 1999, in Samara, Russia

Valentina Neverova, editor of the state-owned newspaper Pravo, died in a suspicious fire that swept the Internal Affairs Ministry's regional headquarters in Samara.

Neverova, 53, was in the building interviewing officials for an article in Pravo, which is published by the Internal Affairs Ministry and focuses on law enforcement issues. Like dozens of other victims, Neverova was trapped in the building, unable to jump out of its windows, which had bars on them.

Samara has been plagued with growing organized crime. Ministry employees who survived the blaze said some crime investigators had received anonymous threatening phone calls before the fire.

While investigators have claimed that faulty wiring probably caused the fir, many employees continue to suspect arson.

Motive Unconfirmed: CPJ is investigating to determine whether the death was work-related.